November Wholesale Shipments Show 72% Slide

December 30, 2008 by Sherman GoldenbergComments Off on November Wholesale Shipments Show 72% Slide

Representing the sharpest year-over-year percentage decline in 2008, November wholesale shipments were down 72.1% as all sectors registered drops of 50% or higher.
According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), overall November shipments totaled 6,000 units compared with 21,500 a year ago. For the 11 months, deliveries fell 30.1% to 231,400 units from 331,000 the year prior.
The high-volume travel trailer market declined 69.1% in November with 3,400 units shipped versus 11,000 in 2007 while deliveries dropped 26.2% to 124,900 units from 169,200 year-to-date.
November Class A shipments were down over 78.9% with 400 units shipped compared with 1,900 the year prior and declined 52% for the 11 months with 14,500 units delivered versus 30,200.
Other highlights from the report include:
• Overall November towable shipments decreased 71.4% to 5,200 units from 18,200 the previous year and the motorized sector declined 75.8% to 800 units compared with 3,300. Year-to-date, towable deliveries dropped 27.2% to 203,700 units from 279,700 a year ago while the motorized wholesale sector declined 46% to 27,700 units versus 51,300.
• November Class C shipments were down 75% with 300 units delivered compared with 1,200 in 2007. Year-to-date the sector dropped 37.9% to 11,300 units from 18,200.
• For the month, fifth-wheel shipments fell 76.4% to 1,300 units compared with 5,500 in 2007. Year-to-date, the segment was down 27.4% with 55,500 units shipped compared with 76,400 the previous year.
• November Class B deliveries fell 100 units to 100 and dropped 1,000 units to 1,900 for the 11 months.
• November folding camping trailer shipments declined 69.2% to 400 units from 1,300 a year ago and were down 31.4% year-to-date with 18,600 units shipped versus 27,100.
• Truck camper shipments fell 300 units to 100 in November and declined 32.9% to 4,700 units from 7,000 for the 11 months.